Flushing-valve.



P. F. DE TAMBLE.

FLUSHING VALVE.

APPLICATION man MAY 15, 191e..

Patented Feb. 5, 19M.

PERCY F. DE TMBLE, 0F CHICAGO, JILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 FRANK SAMPSON AND ONE-HALF TO ISIDORE H. STONE, BOTH 0F CHICAGO, ILLINIS.

FLUSHING-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratentea net. a, taie.

Applica-tin mea may 15, 191e. serial no. 97,541.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, PERcY F. DE TAMBLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flushing-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention .relates tc flushing valves for water closets and the like, and has reference more particularly to valves of that type which, when actuated, automatically discharge a predetermined volume of water to the closet bowl, and wherein the volume of water so discharged is capable-of regulation according to the amount required for flush.- ing purposes in each individual case.

The general object of the invention is to provide a flushing valve of the type mentionedthat Shall be characterized by simplicity of structure, certainty and reliability of action, neatness of appearance and economy of space required, and low costof manufacture. Other and more speciiic objects are, to provide an automatic flushing valve that shall operate equally well under widely varying water pressures from three pounds upward, to provide an improved valve of that particular type wherein the main water-control valve opens with and closes against the pressure of the inlowing water, to provide improvements in that particular type wherein the main valve closes after discharginga given volume of water whether the operating handle or knob be rheld. open or released, to provide a novel means of adjustment for securing various amounts of water permitting a greater range and finer degree of adjustment than has heretofore been attained, to provide a novel and improved relief valve, to provide a novel and improved structure and location of intake by-pass, and to provide a Inovel and improved structure and location of outflow byass. p Still other objects and advantages secured by the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein ll have ilustrated a practical and preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical axial section taken in the plane of the operating handle. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the lower portion of the structure taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an outer end elevation of the pushrod and its mounting that actuates the re- 'lief-valve. Fig. 4 is an inner end view of the push-rod and the eccentric carried thereby.

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates a vertical cylindrical casing constituting the main body of the valve structure and formed with a contracted lower end 11 to which the water discharge pipe is attached and, just above its lower end,'with a laterally extending boss 12 to which is connected the water supply pipe. 13 designates a cap or cover that has a screw-threaded connection with the upper end ofthe casing 10, forming a water-tight joint therewith by means of a gasket 14; and 15 designates another laterally extending boss on the side of the casmg that surrounds a hole 16 in the wall of the latter for a purpose hereinafter eX- plained. Formed integral with and inside the main casing 10 is a short elbow section 17 that registers with the intake opening formed by the boss 12 and constitutes virtually an upwardly turned extensionof the water supply pipe. The upper end of this elbow section forms an annular horizontal valve seat 18, with which cooperates the main water admission and shut-oft' valve 19. The valve 19, which carries a gasket 20 and a depending baille l21 that effects the"reill of the closet bowl, is formed on and integral with the lower end-of a hollow structure 22 that is in effect a'hollow stem for the valve 19 and serves avvariety of functions hereinafter pointed out, and carries at and integral with its upper end a piston 23 having water-tight sliding engagement with the internal wall of the cylmdrical casing 10. Centrally mounted in the piston 23 is an upstanding tube 24, and centrally mounted 1n the main control valve 19 is a depending a grid or spider' tube 25 is closed except for a fine lateral duct 29 .(Fig. 2) just above said closed lower end. The tube 25, hollow structure 22, and tube 24 constitute an intake by-pass for the water, leading into aA differential pressure chamber 30 between the piston 23 and the cap 13. In the normalor non-flushing condition of the device the elbow 17, pipe 25, hollow valve stem 22, pipe 24 andv chamber 30 are all flooded with water at the pressure existing in the water main; and the greater area of the piston 23 over that of the lower side of valve 19, plus the weight of the movable structure, keeps the main valve 19 closed. When, however, the pressure in the chamber 30 is relieved, the main valve and the superposed structure rise, and this is accomplished by the following mechanism.-ln,one side wall of the hollow stem 22 is formed an inwardly projecting hollow boss 31 that forms a guide and support for the stem 32 of a relief valve 33 that seats against the outer end of the boss 31 and is normally held closed by a spring 34 that` abu'ts against a cap member 35 screwing into an opening 36 in the opposite side wall of the hollow stem .22, said opening 36 permitting the valve 33 and its associated parts to be applied and removed. Attached to the outer end of the valve stem 32 by a ball-andsocket joint 37 is a linger 38 that constitutes in effect a flexible section or extension of the valve stem. This linger 38 extends through a vertical slot 39 in a bracket 46 that is formed as a part of theI casting lwhich comprises the parts 19, 22 and 23, and the finger 38 is normally supported in a horizontalI position by the lower end of the slot 39.

The tube 24, hollow valve stem 22, and hollow boss 31 together form an outiow by-pass when the relief valve 33 is unseated by the mechanism next to be described.

Within the boss 15 and slidably engaging in the hole 16 is a ush-rod 41, on the inner end of which, within the main cylindrical casing 10, is avalve-tripping disk 42 that is eccentric with reference to the axis of the rod, as shown in Fig. 4. This disk 42 lies opposite the outer end of finger 38, as shown in Fig. 1.. The rod 41 is packed by a washer 43; and a thin metal disk 44 engaging one face of the washer 43 forms an abutment for a spring 45, the other end of -which engages a trip-adjusting head 46 that has a threaded connection with the outer end of rod 41 and slidably fits the bore of the boss 15. The periphery of the head 46 is toothed, as best shown in Fig. 3; and said toothed periphery engages with an inter- 4nally toothed ring 47 that is countersunk in the outer end of boss 15. The head 46 has a rounded or convex outer face provided with a kerf 48, and this convex face is engaged by the concave inner end 49 of a handle 50. A keeper nut 51 screws onto the outer end to normal horizontal position.

of boss 15 and is formed with an in-turned flange 52 that engages with the inner end 49 of the handle and holds the latter in operetive relation to the head of the pushro In the operation of-the flushing valve, the inow conduit 17, tube 25, hollow valve stem 22, tube 24 and differential pressure chamber 30, are filled with water under the pressure of the water main, except for a small body of air in the hollow cap 13. When the handle 50 is tilted in any direction the push-rod 41 and eccentric 42 are forced inwardly and, by contact with the finger 38, open the relief valve 33 which controls the outfiow by-pass, thereby permitting the body lof water 1n the differential pressure chamber to vent freely tothe lower portion of the cylinder 10 and discharge outlet 11. The water pressure on the lower side of the main valve 19 quickly raises said valve and the superposed parts, permitting the water to overflow the valve seat 18 and rusli throughthe lower portion of the cylinder 10 and discharge outlet 11 to the bowl. During this rising movement of the main valve- 19, piston 23, and intermediate parts, the relief valve finger 38 rises over the outer face of the eccentric 42 until its outer end passes the upper edge of the eccentric, whereupon the relief valve 33 instantly closes and reestablishes the water main pressure in the differential pressure chamber 30. As the latter gradually re-iills through the inflow by-pass, the main valve 19 settles to its seat, thus cuttting off the main flow of water to the bowl. As the baille 21 enters the annular valve seat 18, the flow of water is reduced to an annular spray which effects the refill of the bowl in a manner well understood. The universal joint 37 between the valve stem 32 and the valve-actuating finger 38 permits the descending movement of the movable structure, and closing of the relief valve 33, even though the push-rod 41 be maintained by the handle 50 in its inward position during such descending movement. The instant the handle 50 is released the spring 45 retracts the push-rod 41 and its eccentric 42, permitting the finger 38 to drop Owing to the large area of the outflow or relief dis- ;charge, the upward or valve-opening movenetgear ble of nice regulation by shifting the position of the eccentric 42 relativelyf-to the valve. actuating finger 38. In the adjustment shown in Figs. 1 and 4 the eccentric 42 is set to accommodate a maximum upward travel of the parts. When the pushrod 41 is turned through a the low point of the eccentric will be uppermost, and the parts will then be set for the minimum upward movement of the main valve and superposed parts. The eccentric may be set to any-intermediate positions between these extremes, depending upon the neness of the graduation afforded by the cooperating parts 46 and 47, the adjustment being effected by removing vthe handle 50 and cap nut 51, applying a Spanner to the kerf 48, pushing the hea 46 inwardly until the teeth thereon pass out of registration y with the teeth of the ring 47, then turning the member 46 to the desired extent and then permitting the parts 46 and 47 to again interlock with each other under the'action of spring 45.

vFrom the foregoing it will be seenv that the intake by-p'a'ss is constant, and the measuring capacity of the flushing valve is effected by graduating the extent of the rising or opening movement of the main valve 19,

BOthis latter in turn being controlled by the time period during which the relief valve 33 is held open.

It will be observed that the construction is of that type wherein the main valve opens with, rather than against, the pressure of the incoming wate '.llhis 4renders the device very sensitive and quick in the opening movement of the main valve, and renders the device particularly efficient in connection with low water pressures; and, since the main valve closes under opposing pressures, it seats gently andI noiselessly. rlhe inflow andv outflow by-passes .are-not only wholly within the main cylindrical casing, but also Within the single movable member comprising the main valve, piston, and connecting part,thus greatly simplifying the valve in respect both to structure and appearance.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 2 that the fine duct 29 at the lower end of the intake by-pass tube 25 is located on the rear side of said tube with reference to the direction of flow of the incoming water. The specific location of this duct as shown is important, since it prevents the duct from being clogged or obstructed by sand, grit or any other foreign matter in the water. When the main valve is open and the water is rushing through the elbow conduit 17, it sweeps past, rather than into, the ne duct 29, thus keeping the latter clear of any such obstructions.

From the foregoing it is believed that the manner in which the device of my invention eH'ects the stated purposes thereof will be half revolution,

readily apparent to those familiar with this art, and, without limiting myself to the precise details shown and described.

li claim:

1. In a Hushing valve, the ycombination with a casing having water inlet anddischargeopenings, of a main valve controlling the water inlet, a piston connected to said mal'n valve and forming a movable wall of a differential pressure chamber, an intake bypass between said water inlet opening and said differential pressure chamber, an out- How by-pass between said differential pressure chamber and said discharge opening, a relief valve in said out-flow by-pass, and manually operable means for opening said relief valve and holding the same open during the opening movement of said main valve, said relief valve being self closing after a predetermined extent of opening movement of said main valve, and said manually operable means being adjustable .to hold the relief valve open during varying extents of opening movement of said main valve.

2. lin a flushing valve, the combination with a casing having water inlet and discharge openings of a main valve controlling the water inlet, a piston forming a movable wall of a differential pressure chamber, a hollow structure rigidly. connecting said f main valve and piston and communicating with said diderential pressure chamber, an intake by-pass between said inlet opening and said differential pressure chamber, a relief valve in said hollow structure, and manually operable means for opening said relief valve and holding the same open during the opening movement of said main valve, said relief valve being self closing after a predetermined extent of Vopening movement of said main valve, and said manually operable means being adjustable to hold the relief valve open during varying extents of opening movement of said main valve. A n

3. In a flushing valve, the combination with a casing, of a movable structure within' said casing containing a relief passage, a relief valve seat and valve carried by said movable structure and controlling said relief passage, said relief valve having a stem projecting from said movable structure at right yangles to the path of movement of the latter, a spring normally tending to close said relief valve, and a push-device mounted in a side wall of said casing and adapted to unseat said relief valve through contact with the outer end of its stem.

4. In a flushing valve, the combination with a casing, of a movable structure within said casing containing a relief passage, a relief valve seat and valve carried by said movable structure and controlling said relief passage, said relief valve having a jointed stem projecting from said movable structure at right angles to the path of movement of the latter, afspring normally tending to close said relief valve, and a push-device mounted in a side wall of said casing and adapted to unseat said relief valve through contact with the outer end of its stem.

`5. In a flushing valve, the combination with a casing, of a movable structure within said casing containing a relief passage, a relief valve seat and valve carried by said movable structure and controlling said relief passage, said relief valve having a stem projectin from said movable structure'at right ang es to the path of movement of the latter, a spring-normally tending .to close said relief valve, a push rod mounted in a side-wall ofwsaid casing, a disk eccentrically mounted on the inner end of said push rod -and adapted to unseat said relief valve through contact with the outer end of its stem, said push rod being adjustable about its longitudinal axis, and means for locking said push rod in any adjusted position against rotation under its normal endwise movement.

6. In a flushing valve, the combination with a casing, of a movable structure within said casing containing a relief passage, a relief valve seat and valve carried by said movable structure and controlling said relief passage, said relief valve having a jointed stem projecting from said movable structureJ at right angles to the path of movement of the latter, a spring normally tending to close said relief valve, a push rod mounted in a side Wall of Said casing, a disk eccentrically mounted on the inner end of said push rod and adapted to unseat said relief valve through contact with the outer end of its stem, said push rod being adjustable about its longitudinal axis, and means for locking said push rod in any adjusted vposltlo'n against rotation under its normal endwise movement.

7. In a iushing valve, the combination with a casing havmg a laterally projecting hollow boss, of a movable structure within said casing containing a relief passage, a relief valve seat and valve carried by said movable structure and controllin said relief passage, said relief valve having a stem projecting from said movable structure at right angles to the path of movement of the latter, a spring normally tending to close said relief valve, a push rod mounted' in a side wall of said casing and disposed Within and coaxial with said hollow boss, a disk eccentrically mounted on the inner end of said push rod and adapted to unseat said relief valve through contact with the outer end of its stem, a peripherally toothed head on the outer end of said push rod, an internally toothed ring in said boss with which said head slidably engages, a spring normally urging said push rod outwardly of said casing, and an operating handle iexibly jointed to the outer end of said boss and engaging the outer face of said head.

8. In a ushing valve, the combination of a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a piston-like main valve reciprocable in said casing and controlling communication between said inlet and outlet, an auxiliary valve carried by said main valve and governing the relief of pressure behind the piston-like valve, means by which said auxiliary valve may be temporarily unseated, and a rotatably adjustable plunger with an eccentric on the end engageable with said unseatin means to actuate the same and wiped by said unseating means in the opening moyement of the main valve, thereb making possible the adjustment ofthe action of the main valve.

PERCY F. DE TAMBLE. 

